Inmate in Hamilton County jail death identified

Inmate in Hamilton County jail death identified

A Hamilton County Jail inmate who died while in custody has been identified as 48-year-old Phillip Dale Ellis, court record show.

Ellis' cause of death has not been determined. As of Wednesday afternoon, the medical examiner's report was not completed.

Ellis was found unresponsive in his cell at the jail on Saturday. Corrections officers tried to resuscitate him, according to the sheriff's office. He was transported to Erlanger hospital, where he died Sunday, according to a press release from the Sheriff's Office.

Even though Ellis' family has been notified of his death, sheriff's office authorities declined to name him on Wednesday.

"That information has not been released yet," said Janice Atkinson, public information officer for the sheriff's office.

Ellis' family members still have many unanswered questions about his death and say he was supposed to be on medication. They are awaiting the results of the autopsy.

On Sept. 20, authorities went to Ellis' home after warrants were issued for his arrest stemming from a Sept. 18 incident in which he is accused of pulling a gun on a Republic parking employee and driving through a parking lot gate.

Sheriff's office SWAT team members searched his residence at 13608 Jones Gap Road, where they found 14 marijuana plants, grow lights, fans, timers, vents and assorted power supplies, the arrest report states.

Before last month's arrests, Ellis had traffic infractions in his record, according to court documents.

Since his death, his mugshot has been removed from the sheriff's office database.